How Do You Spell TRUE SCOTSMAN?

Pronunciation: [tɹˈuː skˈɒtsmən] (IPA)

The spelling of "true scotsman" can be explained through its phonetic transcription in IPA: /truː ˈskɒts.mən/. The word "true" is pronounced with the long vowel sound "oo" (as in "blue"), followed by the "s" sound, and then the "t" sound. "Scotsman" is pronounced with the "s" sound at the beginning, followed by the "k" sound, the "o" sound, the "t" sound, and the "s" sound again at the end. This spelling accurately reflects the pronunciation of the phrase in the Scottish accent.

TRUE SCOTSMAN Meaning and Definition

1. The term "true Scotsman" is a concept coined by philosopher Antony Flew in 1975 to describe a logical fallacy often encountered in debates and discussions. In its essence, the fallacy occurs when a person tries to redefine a term or category in order to suit their argument or exclude undesirable examples.

   The fallacy derives its name from an imaginary, stereotypical archetype of a "true Scotsman." It starts with a generalized statement, such as "No true Scotsman would do such a thing." If a counterexample is presented, someone might respond by claiming that the example given doesn't represent a "true" Scotsman and thus doesn't disprove the initial statement. This reasoning is flawed because it is shifting goalposts and redefining the criteria when faced with counterexamples.

   The concept highlights the dangers of circular reasoning and the subjective nature of defining what constitutes a true member of a particular category or group. It underlines the importance of having clear and consistent definitions when engaging in objective discussions or analysis.

   Furthermore, the "true Scotsman" fallacy is not limited to discussions about Scottish identity or nationality but can be applied to various domains where someone attempts to redefine the boundaries of a category for the sake of maintaining a particular assertion or belief.

Etymology of TRUE SCOTSMAN

The phrase "No true Scotsman" is not derived from the etymology of a single word, but rather from a logical fallacy known as the "No True Scotsman" fallacy. The term was coined by the philosopher Antony Flew in his 1975 book "Thinking About Thinking: Do I sincerely Want to Be Right?".

The fallacy occurs when someone defends a universal statement, and when faced with evidence that contradicts it, they modify the statement by excluding certain cases to maintain its accuracy. The classic example often used to explain this fallacy is as follows:

Person A: "No Scotsman puts sugar on his porridge".

Person B: "But my friend Angus, who is Scottish, puts sugar on his porridge".

Person A: "Ah, but no true Scotsman puts sugar on his porridge".